ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues his East Coast tour Friday with a stop in Newfoundland, where he stressed the importance of supporting university research.Trudeau visited the Core Science Facility, under construction at Memorial University in St. John's.The project is expected to be completed by 2020 and Trudeau says infrastructure projects like the centre are important in supporting innovation, research and science — things he says are all "essential elements to a thriving economy."Trudeau deflected reporters' questions on some local issues including the federal loan guarantee for the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric megaproject and the need for a new prison in St. John's, saying he was looking forward to discussing issues important to the province in a meeting later today with Premier Dwight Ball.However, Trudeau says his government is committed to the province, as evidenced by its financial support of infrastructure projects such as the science facility at Memorial.The prime minister said his government had approved more than 350 infrastructure projects in Newfoundland and Labrador since 2016.The Canadian Press

The funeral for seven Syrian children who died in a fast-moving house fire will be held on Saturday. A Facebook post from the Ummah Masjid and Community Center says the service will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Cunard Centre on Halifax's waterfront. The post says the funeral will follow in the Islamic traditions, and all are welcome to participate.

An environmental group that tried to widen the scope of the National Energy Board's reconsideration of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion says it fully expects the board to endorse the project again in its ruling today. "I think the NEB has a long record of siding with industry over communities and other concerns ... so we have every expectation that they're going to recommend the project go ahead despite the serious problems with it," said Sven Biggs, climate campaigner for Stand.earth, a Vancouver environmental group formerly called ForestEthics. The federal regulator is scheduled to release its recommendations today but the restart of construction of the controversial crude conduit from Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C., still faces hurdles.

A bloodstained jacket, a missing cellphone and a multitude of police errors — Crown prosecutors are expected to conclude the evidence portion of their case against Dennis Oland at his second degree murder trial in Saint John, N.B., today. Oland has been charged with the bludgeoning death of his father, multimillionaire businessman Richard Oland, in what the prosecution has described as a fit of rage spurred by Dennis Oland's money problems. The final prosecution witness, John Ainsworth, will be cross examined by defence this afternoon.

An environmental group says it expects the National Energy Board to again approve the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion when it releases results of its reconsideration of the project today. Sven Biggs, climate campaigner for Stand.earth, says the federal regulator's track record is to approve pipelines, but he says that won't stop opponents from launching legal challenges and street protests. The NEB's 2016 approval of the project was set aside last summer by the Federal Court of Appeal, which found the regulator had not properly considered how southern resident killer whales would be affected by additional tanker traffic.

Vancouver 2010 Omlympics

Norm Letnick, BC Liberal MLA, Kelowna-Lake Country
Official closing of the 2010 Olympic ceremonies at the Rutland Centennial Hall.Game time starting at 12:15 p.m. at Rutland Centennial Hall on February 28 and is expected to end at about 3:30 p.m., but everyone is invited to stay, or come back and watch the 2010 Olympics Closing Ceremonies at 5:30 p.m. Bring both your Olympic and Canadian spirit, and dress in red to watch the men’s gold medal hockey game live on the big screen.

Admission is free and Rotary volunteers will be hosting a silent auction, 50/50 fundraiser as well as a concession to raise funds for the 2011 International Children’s Winter Games.
Stewart Tulloch’s pride in Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics shines through in a roadside hockey shrine he set up outside his farm in Winfield‘ Tulloch will be cheering on Canada in the gold-medal men’s hockey game today, starting at noon‘ Central Okanagan residents can gather to watch the game for free at Rutland Centennial Hall and Seating is limited, so those who would like to attend are asked to pre-register.
The festivities will continue until the Olympic Closing ceremonies at 5:30 p.m Preregister to watch at the Rutland hall by calling 250-765-8516.